Restorative Justice

Resolving Conflicts Utilizing Restorative Practices

The aim of Restorative Practices in Littleton Public Schools is to develop community and to manage conflict and tensions by repairing harm and building relationships. 

Restorative Justice Facilitator- Rita Danna (303) 347-4743

What are Restorative Practices?

Restorative Practices are based on principles and processes that emphasize the importance of positive relationships as central to building community and involve processes that restore relationships when conflict or harm has occurred.

  • Cultivating meaningful relationships creates an inclusive nurturing learning   environment.
  • With a strong foundational relationship we are able to use conflict as a catalyst for deeper connection.
  • RP is the practical application of social emotional skills (empathy, assertive communication, problem solving)

A restorative approach to conflict or wrongdoing consists of 3 key questions:

  1. What happened?
    • All participants tell their side of the story, uninterrupted.
  2. Who has been affected?
    • People who harm others are given an opportunity to hear how their actions  affect others.
    • People who are harmed get to talk about how the actions of others affect them and are given an opportunity to ask questions
  3. What can be done to repair the harm?
    • All of the people involved in the incident get a chance to participate in plans to repair the harm and/or keep it from happening again.

Restorative Practices are used for:

  • Face to face mediation with student-student, student-staff, student-parents, parents-staff
  • Restorative circles or conferences in classrooms for community building or problem solving, or with families (attendance, drug & alcohol), or with community members

LPS promotes a Restorative Justice approach when possible to resolve conflict and address specific discipline issues.  Restorative Justice (also known as Restorative Practices) is a philosophy in which problems are viewed as learning opportunities. Emphasis is placed on building the capacity of students (and educators) to respond to wrongdoing and conflict in a positive manner by focusing on the problem rather than the person. This change in focus ensures the dignity of each person is respected. A restorative approach to conflict or wrongdoing consists of three key questions:

1. What happened?   
2. Who has been affected? 
3. What can be done to repair the harm?

Restorative Practice provides an opportunity for students to hear how their actions affect others. Those who were harmed get to talk about how the actions of others affect them and are given an opportunity to ask questions. All of the people involved in the incident get a chance to participate in plans to repair the harm.  (The use of Restorative Justice may not necessarily replace other school consequences.)

To find out more about the use of Restorative Justice in your child’s school, contact a school administrator or your child’s assigned Counselor, Social Worker, or Psychologist.

You can also contact Rita Danna, LPS Restorative Justice Facilitator at (303) 347-4743.